Police: Man Reported Masturbating in Pentagon City Store

An unknown man was seen masturbating in the shoe section of a retail store in Pentagon City this week, according to the Arlington County Police Department.

An employee of the store, in the 1200 block of South Hayes Street, walked by and saw the man engaged in the act Monday afternoon and called police.

When the man noticed he had been seen, he ran away, police spokesman Dustin Sternbeck told Patch.

"There were other patrons inside the store at the time," he said. "It wasn't like he was just standing in an aisle full of a hundred people."

Sternbeck would not name the store. Police do not believe the man was watching anyone in particular while engaged in the act, he said.

Investigators are reviewing security footage from the store.

The man is described as in his late 30s, about 5-foot-8 and weighing 150 pounds. He had short black hair and was wearing a black and red jacket with "Coogi" on the back in red writing, along with red sneakers, at the time of the incident, according to police.

This article was originally published Oct. 2.